Addressing machine for applying addressed sealing labels to successive articles



H. P. ELLIOTT ADDRESSING MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESSED SEALING Feb. 4, 1941'.

LABELS.TO SUCCESSIVE ARTICLES Filed Nov. 30, 1939 '7 Sheets-Sheet l QQM a n a. x m

H. P. ELLIOTT Feb. 4, 1941.

ADDRESSING MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESSED SEALING LABELS TO SUCCESSIVE ARTICLES Filed NOV. 30, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. mi 8N @m P. ELLIOTT 2,230,452

7 sheets-sheet s LABELS TO SUCCESSIVE ARTICLES Filed Nov. 30, 1939 ADDRESSING MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESSED SEALING Feb. 4,

Feb. 4, 1941. H 0 2,230,452

ADDRESSING MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESSED SEALING LABELS TO SUCCESSIVE ARTICLES Filed Nov. 30, 1939 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 1941' H. P. ELLIOTT 2,230,452

. ADDRESSING MACHINE FOR APPLYINGADDRESSED SEALING LABELS TO SUCCESSIVE ARTICLES Filed Nov. 30, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 4, 1941. H. P. ELLIOTT 2,230,452

ADDRESSING MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESSED SEALING LABELS TO SUCCESSIVE ARTICLES Filed Nov. 30, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Feb. 4,1941. H. P. ELLI-OTT' 2,230,452

ADDRESSING MACHINE FOR APPLYING ADDRESSED SEALING LABELS TO SUOCESSIVE ARTICLES Filed NOV. 30, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES ADDRESSING MACHINE FOR APPLYING AD- DRESSED SEALING LABELS T0 SUCCES- SIV E ARTICLE S Harmon P. Elliott, Watertown, Mass. Application November 30, 1939, Serial No. 306,866

24 Claims.

The present invention relates to addressing machines for applying addressed sealing labels about the loose edges of a succession of articles such as catalogs, folders, and the like and is intended as an improvement upon the machine of my co-pending application Serial No. 261,996 filed March 15, 1939.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved machine for applying labels, especially address-bearing labels, to articles and for folding the labels about an edge of articles of different thicknesses without changing or adjusting the folding mechanism. As illustrated herein, the folding mechanism comprises a presser member arranged to engage the label and press it against the upper surface of the article. The presser member is provided adjacent to its rear edge with a relatively movable member which is arranged to engage the projecting portion of the label and to fold the label against the edge of the article, and means for engaging the downwardly projecting portion of the label to fold it under the other surface of the article and to press the label thereagainst. The pressing mechanism above referred to is positively or yieldingly connected to an actuating mechanism in order to accommodate the mechanism to different thicknesses of the articles to which the labels are to be applied. Such an arrangement constitutes a further object of the invention.

The labels used in connection with this machine are successive endmost sections severed from a strip or web preferably gummed on one face and carrying an address on the opposite face, the gummed face being moistened with water, or the face being otherwise rendered adhesive, just prior to severing the label from the strip and applying it to the article to be sealed. I have discovered that time is required for the moisture to penetrate the adhesive and render the label thoroughly adherent to the article receiving it and thatthe label may not always stick well to the top face of the article if it is applied to the article and then immediately folded over the edge and pressed against the under face of the article. Hence an object of this invention is a mechanism wherein the article with a label thereof is caused to advance several ween the label applying device and the label folding and pressing device in order to give the adhesive time to become strongly adherent to the article, the article moving mechanism being so arranged that during this idle movement of the articles, other articles are moved into and out of the label applying device and into and out of the folding device.

- Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for removing the successive lowermost articles from the stack and for feeding the successive articles into label applying position and into label folding position as above described. To this end, the machine is provided with a holder for a vertical stack of articles and constantly operating means for removing the articles from the stack and for feeding them into label applying position. As illustrated, the constantly operating article feeding means comprises a chain having thereon a plurality of projecting lugs which engage the rear edge of the article and which are spaced apart a distance substantially greater than the length of the article, thereby permitting the article to come to rest in label applying position free from the chain for a period sufiicient to enable an adhesive label to be secured to the surface of the article and before it is moved out of such position by a following article.

Another object of the invention is generally to improve the construction and operation of addressing machines.

With the above and other objects and features in view, the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the left hand portion of a machine illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 1a is a plan view of the right hand portion of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a view in section taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2a is a view in section 2a-2a of Fig. 1a;

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 211;

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of the label strip feeding mechanism;

Fig. 4a is a view in front elevation of the feed roll and its operating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of the power driving mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, of the label aflixing mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a view on a somewhat enlarged scale, partly in section, of the yieldable connection between the label folding mechanism and its operating lever;

Fig. 8 is a view in front folding mechanism;

taken along the line elevation of the label Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are views in side elevation illustrating successive steps of the operation of the label folding mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic plan view of the machine illustrating the relative positions of the article holder, the label affixing mechanism, the label folding mechanism and the article receiving hopper;

Fig. 13 is a perspective View of an article, such as a catalog or folder having a label secured thereto;

Fig. 14 is a view in front elevation of a portion of the chain and lug for removing successive articles from the stack and for feeding successive articles into label affixing position;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the parts in side elevation; and

Fig. 16 is a detail view showing the mechanism for raising and lowering a stop for positioning the articles in label folding position.

The machine illustrated herein is arranged to apply addressed labels to magazines, booklets, advertising circulars, and the like in such fashion as to seal or hold together the leaves at a loose edge thereof. It is evident, however, that the machine may be so constructed that an addressing machine may be incorporated therewith to address successive labels before or as they are fed into label aiiixing position as is taught in my above referred to copending application.

The product of the machine of the present invention is a multi-leaved catalog or the like 30, see Fig. 13, having a label 32 applied about the loose edges of the leaves and affixed to the top and bottom faces of the cover sheets, thereby binding the loose edges together for mailing. That part of the label that overlies a cover sheet has an address 34 printed thereon. The cover sheet adjacent the addressed part of the label may carrythe postal permit, return address and other mailing notices that may be required by the postal authorities.

The illustrated machine is provided with a bed or table 38 which is supported upon a suitable frame 40. The bed 38 is provided with parallel spaced rails 44 between which successive articles are fed from a holder 46 to a label afiixing mechanism 48 by a constantly operating sprocket and chain mechanism 50.

As illustrated, the article holder 46 comprises a pair of upstanding parallel spaced front and rear walls 52 and 54 having inwardly turned edge portions 52a and 54a that cooperate to form end walls of the holder. The walls 52 and 54 are mounted at the right hand end of the spaced rails 44 and in alignment therewith so that articles contained within the stack may be fed from the holder 46 between the spaced rails 44. A bar 56 is carried by the pair of wall portions 52a and 54a. that are at the delivery end of the holder which in the middle part thereof has a depending plate 59 that confronts the leading edges of the articles and is terminated just above the lowermost article of the stack in the holder, to hold back the upper articles when the lowermost article is advanced from the stack. The vertical position of the plate is or can be adjustable to adjust the holder for the delivery of single articles of different thicknesses.

The chain and sprocket mechanism includes two endless chains 58 and 60 mounted on sets of sprockets 62, 64. The sprockets 62 are fixed on an idler shaft 66 journalled in a bearing formed in the lower end of a front hanger 68, secured in any suitable manner to the under side of the machine table 38. The sprockets 64 are mounted on a shaft I0 which is likewise journalled in suitable front and rear bearings formed in the lower portions of front and rear hangers :2 which are secured to the under surface of the table 38 by suitable bolts or machine screws. The shaft 10 carries at its rear end a bevel gear I4 which meshes with a bevel gear 16 fixed to a short shaft I8 journalled in a bearing 80 formed in the lower end of a downwardly extending bracket 82 which in turn is secured to the under surface of the machine bed 38 by bolts or other suitable means. The right hand end of the shaft 18, Fig. 2a, carries a sprocket 06 which is driven by a chain 88 from a sprocket 90 fixed to a horizontal shaft 92. The shaft 92 is rotatably mounted in bearings 94 secured to the frame 40 by bolts 96. The shaft 92 is also supported by an additional bearing 93 which is secured to a horizontally extending cross member I00 by bolts or screws I02.

The shaft 92 is rotated when the machine is conditioned for operation through chain and sprocket connections to a jack shaft I04 which is a part of a power plant I06 well known in the art. Said shaft is driven by an electric motor I08 or other suitable prime mover through a one revolution clutch of any suitable design not herein specifically shown. As shown most clearly in Fig. 5, the machine is provided with a treadle I I2 for operating the clutch, which pedal may, as illustrated, be provided with an upwardly extending rod II4, Figs. 3 and 5, connected to a suitable hand piece II6 for controlling the operation of the machine by the hand of the operator as well as by the foot treadle H2. The machine of the present type is intended for long continued operation so that, normally, the hand piece IIB, when set in operation maintains the treadle down and the clutch parts connected. The shaft I04 is provided adjacent to one end portion thereof with a sprocket I26 which drives the shaft 92 through an endless chain I22 and a sprocket I24 fixed to the shaft 92. Thus the machine may be operated through one cycle of operations by depressing and then releasing the treadle H2 and at the conclusion of the cycle of operation the machine will come to rest.

Reference has heretofore been made to the chains 58 and 60 which are continuously operated so long as the machine is conditioned for operation and which are effective to remove the successive lowermost articles from the stack 54 and to feed said successive articles in a step by step manner into and out of label affixing and label folding positions. To accomplish this article removing operation, each of the chains 58 and 60 is provided with a plurality of projecting lugs I26. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, three projecting lugs I26 are provided on each chain and these lugs are spaced apart a distance somewhat greater than the length of the articles in the holder 54. The chains pass under the stack of articles in the holder 46 and the upper passes project at both ends beyond the holder. As a pair of lugs advance toward the holder they come in engagement with the rear edge of the lowermost article and advance it out of the holder and into the track 44 and then pass about the left hand sprocket 64 and drop below the line of the advanced article, thereby leaving it stationary in position to receive the label. Due to the fact that the spacing between the sets of lugs is greater than the length of the article, andin the specific embodiment illustrated is equal to substantially one and one quarter times the length of the article. The article fed by any one set of the lugs I26 is at rest one-fifth of the time or cycle of the machine. That is to say, the next succeeding set of lugs I26 will not be in position to feed the next succeeding lowermost article in the holder 54 until after the first article has been removed a substantial distance from the front of the holder. This first article, therefore, will not be moved until the leading edge of the next succeeding article engages it to feed the next article into label afiixing position. As illustrated in Fig. 2a, the lug I26 at the left of the holder 54 is in a position where it will, upon further movement of the chain about the sprocket 64, be moved downwardly out of engagement with the rear edge of the article so thatit will no longer be in position to feed the article.

Each of the lugs I26 comprises, as shown best in Figs. 14 and 15, a plate I28 having downwardly extending projections I36, I32 which are secured to upstanding projections I34, I36 formed on one of the links of the chain 58. The plate I28 and the projections I34, I36 are pivotally secured to each other by a pin I38 which extends through the downward projections I36, I32 of the plate l28 and through the upwardly extending projections I34, I36 of one of the links of the chain I363. The plate 528 is provided at its upper surface with a forwardly extending tongue I46 which preferably is formed integrally with the plate I28. Thesemembers or tongues I46 are arranged to move in parallel spaced grooves I42, I44 in the machine bed I38. The tongues I 46 are each provided with an inclined surface I46 to prevent engagement of the forward end of the member I46 with the lower surface of the lowermost article in the holder 46. The member I26 is provided with an elongated plate I48 extending transversely of the chain and which is secured to the upper surface of the plate I28 to provide a shoulder I56 which bears against the rear edge of the lowermost article in the holder 46. This plate I 48 may as illustrated, be secured to the plate I28 by machine screws I52, rivets or other suitable means.

By the mechanism above described, an article 36 is removed from the stack 46 and fed into label afilxing position below the label feeding and affixing mechanism 48 which is arranged to secure a label to the upper surface of the article adjacent to one side edge portion thereof.

As illustrated in Figs. la, 2a, and 3, the label feeding and afiixing mechanism includes a supporting bracket I56 secured to the rear part to the bed 38 of the machine by machine screws I58. The upper end of the bracket I56 is bored to receive a horizontally projecting shaft I66 fixed in the upper and rearwardly extending end of the bracket I56 by means of a pin I62 or other suitable device. The paper web 36 is wound on a roll I64 removably rotatably supported bythe shaft 66 and is restrained from undue endwise or axial movement on the shaft I66 by a removable collar I66 on the shaft.

The paper web 36 is fed from said roll I64 downwardly around a loop-forming idler roll I68, Fig. 3, which is journalled in loops formed in a continuous spring wire I16 which is secured to the rear edge portion of the bed 38 of the machine by a plate I I2 fixed in position by machine screws I'M. This spring wire mounting of the roll I68 provides a web loop 36a from which paper can be drawn without having to start the roll I64 in rotation suddenly, the roll I68 drawing paper from the roll between feeding periods of the label affixing mechanism.

The paper web 36 passes from beneath the roll I66 to a roll I'I6 journalled in suitable bearings formed in brackets I18 secured to and depending below the lower surface of the machine bed 38. The web 36 then passes upwardly and rearwardly through an opening formed in the machine bed 38 and over a feed roll I86 mounted in suitable bearings I82, I84 secured to the upper surface of the bed 38 of the machine.

The feed roll I86 is provided adjacent to one end with a ratchet wheel I86 which is arranged to be operated to rotate the roll I86 by a pawl E88 pivotally secured to one end of a pawl arm H96, the lower end of which is mounted to oscil-' late on the shaft I8I carrying the feed roll I86. The pawl arm 196 has fixed thereto a spur gear I82 which is arranged to be engaged by a rack 64 (Figs. 4 and 4a) which is suitably mounted for reciprocatory movement forwardly and rearwardly of the machine. The rack E64 has an adjustable connectionwith the upper arm of a bell crank lever I66 which is pivotally supported on a horizontal shaft I98 mounted in a suitable support secured to the under side of the bed 38 of the machine. The lower arm 262 of the bell crank lever I86 is secured to the upper end of an eccentric rod 264 fixed at its lower end to an eccentric strap 266. The eccentric strap 266 surrounds an eccentric 268 fixed to the horizontal shaft 92 of the machine. the feed roll I86 is prevented by a brake member 26! which-bears against the right hand end of the periphery of the feed roll I86. The brake member 26! is mounted on a bracket 263 fixed to the machine bed 38. The brake 26I is normally urged against the roll 86 by a spring 265 which acts also to secure the brake member to the bracket 263. When the machine is placed in operation, the eccentric 268 will be rotated to Overthrow of cause reciprocation of the eccentric link 264 thereby causing oscillation of the bell crank lever I96 about its shaft I98. This oscillating motion of the bell crank lever I66 is transmitted to the rack I34 having teeth thereon which mesh with the gear 592, thus oscillating the pawl carrying arm I 66 about the shaft I8I causing intermittent feeding movement of the feed roll I86.

The feed roll I86 is provided with a plurality of projecting web-driving pins 2H6 which are arranged to engage holes 2I2 formed in the paper web 36 to prevent slippage of the paper web 36 as it is being fed.

The paper web 36 passes from the feed roll I86 between a pair of shear blades or members 2M and 2| 6. The upper shear member 2I4 is stationary and is secured to an upwardly extending yoke 2 I8 having laterally projecting portions 226 and 222 which are secured to the upper surface of the machine bed 38 by machine screws 226. The stationary shear blade 2 I4 is secured to the forward face of the yoke 2I6 by suitable bolts 228. The lower or movable shear blade 2! 6 is pivotally secured at 228 to an extension 236 formed at the left hand end of the stationary shear member 2M.

Said movable shear blade is normally urged toward open position, that is, the position shown in Fig. 2a, by a coil spring 232. The shear blade 2I6 carries adjacent to its lower edge portion a cam roll 234 which is arranged to be engaged by a cam 236 rotatably mounted on a horizontal shaft 238 extending transversely of the machine bed 38. The shaft 238 is journalled in bearings formed in the lower ends of depending brackets 2I0 which are suitably secured by bolts or machine screws to the bed 38 of the machine. The shaft 238 has fixed thereto intermediate of its ends a sprocket 242 having a chain 244 which is driven by a sprocket 246 fixed to the horizontal shaft I0 carrying the chain-driving sprocket wheels 64. The cam 236 is thus rotated in timed relation to the feeding of the paper web 36 to sever an addressed label from the paper web.

After the paper web 36 has passed the shear blades 2I4, 2I6 it passes over a wetting or moistening roll 248 which is rotatably mounted in a water containing trough 250 which in turn is secured to a horizontal plate 252 supported above the bed 38 of the machine by blocks 254 to which the plate 252 is suitably secured by set screws 256. The trough 250 is supplied with water (or adhesive) from a bottle 25I mounted in a suitable bracket 253 fixed to the machine bed 38. The water or adhesive is fed from the bottle 25I through a flexible rubber hose 255. After the desired length of label has been fed over the moistening roll 248, the cam 236 is rotated to move the movable shear member 2 I6 upwardly to sever a label from the web 36.

The severed label is moved from its position above the plate 262 into label afiixing position by a suction box 268 which is mounted for movement horizontally and then downwardly to press a portion (preferably the addressed portion) of the moistened label against the upper surface of a folder or catalog 30. The suction box 258 preferably is formed of a hollow block of preferably, metal and is provided at its lower surface with a perforated cover 260 formed of rubber or other suitable resilient material. The suction box 258 is provided at each end with laterally projecting pins 262 which fit into cam grooves 264 formed in blocks 266. The blocks 266 are secured to the bed 38 of the machine by machine screws 268. As shown most clearly in Fig. 1a the blocks 266 are spaced a substantial distance from the ends of the suction box 258 to permit the pins 262 to receive bearings formed in the lower ends of arms 210, 212 of a yoke 214. The yoke 214 is pivotally secured at its upper end to a pair of upwardly and forwardly extending arms 216 by a shaft 218. The arms 216 are fixed to a horizontal shaft 280 which is journalled in bearings formed in the upper ends of upwardly extending brackets 282 which are suitably secured to the upper surface of the bed 38 of the machine by machine screws 284. The shaft 280 has secured thereto an upwardly and forwardly extending arm 286 which is pivotally connected at its upper end to a link 288 by a pin 290. The other end of the link 288 is pivotally secured by a pin 292 to the upper end of a bent and substantially vertically extending lever 294 which is pivotally secured to a cap screw 286 threaded into the rear end portion of the right hand cam block 268. The lower end of the lever 294 carries thereon a cam roll 298 which fits into a cam groove 302 formed in the side face of a cam member 304. The cam 304 is fixed to a horizontal shaft 306 extending lengthwise of the machine. The shaft 306 is journalled at its right hand end (Fig. 2a) in a bearing 388 formed in the lower end of the downwardly extending bracket 310 suitably Secured by machine screws to the lower surface of the machine bed 38. The other end of the shaft 306 is journalled in a bearing 3I2 formed in the lower end of a downwardly projecting bracket 3I4 secured to the under surface of the machine bed 38 by machine screws 3I6. The shaft 306 is quite long and is supported at about its midportion by a bearing 3I8 formed in the lower end of a bracket 320 which is secured to the under surface of the bed 38 of the machine by machine screws 32?. The shaft 306 is provided adjacent to the cam member 304 with a sprocket 322 which is fixed to the shaft 306 and which is driven through a chain 324 from a sprocket 326 fixed to the horizontal shaft 92.

It is evident from the above that the suction box 258 is reciprocated in timed relation to the web feed roll I and the severing or shear members 2 I4 and 216 to move a severed adhesive label into engagement with the upper surface of a work piece during the time that the work piece or article 30 to which a label is to be secured is at rest. The cam grooves 264 of the cam block 266 have forward declined parts 264a so that the suction block is caused to be moved downwardly at the final part of its forward stroke thereby to press the moistened label against the top face of the underlying article. The arrangement of the parts is such that the address-bearing or forward part only of the label is in contact with the article, the rear part, or approximately half of the label overhanging the rear edge of the article.

The suction box 258 is connected by means of aflexible tube 328 to a suction pump 330 which is operated from the shaft I04 by a crank 332 connected to the rear piston rod 334 of the pump. The operation of the pump 330 is so arranged that the pump piston is on its downward or suction stroke shortly before the time that the label severing operation is completed by the shear members 2I4 and 2I6. As soon as a label is severed from the web 36, it is brought into engagement with the suction box 258 by the suction produced in the box by the pump 330 and is held against the bottom of the box until the box has moved over and into engagement with the article which is in label affixing position. After the label has been affixed, the suction box is returned to the position shown in Fig. 3 by the connections above described.

The forward movement of the suction box with the label adherent thereto draws the rear part of the label over the moistening roll, thereby insuring the wetting of the entire length of the adhesive-carrying face of the label.

After a label has been afiixed to a folder or the like as above described, the next succeeding article in the stack is advanced by the chains 58 and 88 and the lugs I26 thereon so that the forward edge of the next article engages the rear edge of the article to which the label has been secured and moves the labeled article between the guide rails 44 a distance equal to its own length. The row of articles then in the guideway formed between the guide rails 44 is then brought to rest and the label is affixed to the next article which is then in label affixing position. This cycle of operations is continued until the first labeled article is brought into position below the label folding mechanism 336 where the label is folded about the edge of the article and under and against the other surface of the same to seal the edge of the article. As shown best in Fig. 12, an article must be fed a distance equal to three lengths or steps before it is brought or moved into label folding position. This is desirable in order to provide sufficient time to permit the adhesive on the label to become properly conditioned so that it will adhere securely to the article about which it is to be folded.

The folding mechanism 336 includes a presser plate 338 which is mounted for vertical reciprocating movement in a horizontal forwardly extending plate 349. The horizontal plate 349 is secured to a bracket 342 by machine screws 343 which extend through the bracket 342-and into the bed 38 of the machine. The plate 349 is provided with openings adjacent to its forward edge portion t6 receive vertically extendings pins or rods 344 which are rigidly fixed in holes formed in the presser member 338. The holes above referred to in the plate 349 are somewhat larger than the rods 344 and are each arranged to receive a shouldered collar or bushing 346 which forms a bearing for each of the rods 344 as they move relatively to the plate 349. The pins 344 are surrounded by spiral compression springs 348 which bear against the supporting bushing 346 and against the under side of a horizontal plate 350 which is provided with a pair of spaced apertures to receive bearing collars or bushings 352 in which the upper ends of the rods 344 are slidable. The upper ends of the rods 344, above the bushings 352 are provided with collars 354 which are fixed to the rods by set screws 356.

The rear end portion of the plate 356 is provided with spaced holes for receiving downwardly projecting pins or rods 358 which are fixed in position in the plate 359 by set screws 359. The pins or rods 358 are also surrounded by compression springs 362 which bear against the plates 35!] and 349. The lower end portions of the rods 353 extend slidably through apertures formed in the plate 340. The lower ends of the rods 358 are provided with flattened portions to form bearing surfaces for a folding plate or bar 364 which is secured at each end to the rods 358 by machine screws 366, the lower edge of the folding plate 364- being normally level with the lower surf-ace of the presser plate 338.

With the above so far described construction, the presser plate 338 is maintained yieldingly in elevated position by the springs 348 but-when the plate 359 is depressed by mechanism presently to be described springs 348. are compressed and remove their support from the presser plate. This presser plate, however, is designed to be moved downwardly by the plate 359 and pressed firmly against the label or the catalog. Hence a compression spring 368, Fig. 8, is disposed betwee-nthe upper plate 359 and the presser plate 333 and bears on both and operates through a. hole 338 in the supporting plate 349. Thus downward movement of the plate 359 acts to compress the spring 368 and thereby urge the presser plate downwardly. The spring 368 is retained in position by an upwardly projecting pin 332' of the presser plate 338 and a downwardly projecting pin 314 which is threaded into the upper plate 359, the pins fitting loosely in the opposite ends of the spring. The presser member 338 is reciprocated by 'a lever 376 one end of which is disposed above and in position to engage a wear plate 378 fixed to the top surface of the plate 359. Said lever 316 is pivoted at its rear end to an upstanding bracket 389 secured by machine screws 382 to the upper surface 38 of the machine. The lever 376 is cut away at 384 to receive the cam roll 386 rotatably secured by a stub shaft 388 between plates 399 which are fixed to the lever 316 by welding or other suitable means. The cam roll 386 is engaged by an edge cam 392 fixed to a shaft 394 which is rotatably mounted in bearing-s formed in the upper ends of upwardly projecting bracket members 396. The shaft 394 is continuously rotated during the operation of the machine by a. sprocket 398 fixed thereto Which is driven by a chain 492 from a sprocket 494 fixed to the left hand of the horizontally extending shaft 396.

In operation, the lever 316 during the first portion of its downward movement moves the upper plate 359 downwardly. The presser plate 336 then moves downwardly under the influence of the spring 368 until the plate 338 is pressed against an article in label folding position, the presser plate and folding bar going together without relative change of position therebetween. This position is illustrated in Fig. 9. The upper plate 358 continues its downward movement and, since the folding bar 364 is fixed to the plate 359, it moves below the now stationary presser plate and engages the label at the edge of the article to which the label is secured and folds'it downwardly into the depending vertical position shown in Fig. 10. The downwardly extending portion of the label is then folded inwardly against the surface of the article and is pressed thereagainst by a combined folding and presser roll 4H] which will now be described.

The folding and presser roll 4| 9 is mounted on a bracket 4l2 having upwardly extending arms 4! having bearings to receive the shaft 6 of the presser roll M9. The bracket M2 is secured to a horizontal reciprocating slide M8 which is mounted in ways 429 secured to the under surface of the work table 38. The slide M8 is normally urged in a rearward direction by coil springs 422', which at their forward ends are connected to the forward end of the slide M8 and at their rearward ends are secured to the sides of the I ways 429. The rear end of the slide M8 is pivotally secured to a link 424 which in turn is pivotally secured to the upper end of a cam lever 426 which is pivoted at 428 to downwardly extending brackets 439 secured to the under surface of the bed 38 of the machine. The lower end of the cam lever 426 carries a cam roll 42'! which bears against an edge cam 434 fixed to the shaft 396.

The presser roll M9 is movable from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 9 during movement of the presser plate 338 toward the work. Thus the presser roll 4E9 is retracted and does not interfere with the downward movement of the folder bar 364. After the folding bar 364 has completed its downward movement, the roll 4 I 0 is'moved toward the right, from the position shown in Fig. 9 to the position shown in Fig. 11, thereby engaging the downwardly projecting portion of the label and pressing the adhesive surface of the label against the bottom of the article to seal the edge of the article. After the folding operation has been completed as above described, another article is removed from the bottom of the stack 46 and moved into label affixing position by the sprocket chains 58 and 69 and the article on which the label has been folded is discharged from the end of the work table 38 and into an article receiving hopper 446.

In order to insure that the various articles will be properly positioned in label applying and folding positions, a stop member 428 is provided which is arranged normally to project through an opening formed in the bed 38 of the machine. This stop is arranged to be withdrawn to permit passage of the articles by a cam lever 439 to which the lower end of the stop member 428 is pivotally secured. The cam lever 430 is fulcrumed in a bracket 432 which is secured by any suitable means to the lowersurface of the work table 38. The other end of the lever 430 carries a cam roll 434 which engages an edge cam 436 fixed to the shaft 306. The cam lever 430 is normally urged upwardly by a spring 438. Thus, when the cam is rotated the stop 428 will be moved downwardly by the cam 436 to permit passage of articles but will be returned to its normal position in time to engage the forward or leading edge of the next successive article, thereby stopping the same in the proper position to have label folding operations performed thereon.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for applying addressed labels to articles, a holder for a stack of articles, constantly moving means operative to remove successive articles from the stack and feed the removed articles intermittently into label applying position, means for affixing a portion of a label to one edge of an article between successive feeding movements thereof, means for subsequently applying pressure to the applied portion of the label, and means for folding the unattached portion of the label about the edge of the article while pressure is applied thereto.

2. In a machine for applying addressed labels to articles, a holder for a stack of articles, means operative to remove successive articles from the stack and to feed the removed articles intermittently into label applying and label folding positions, means for affixing the addressed portion of a label to one edge of an article between successive feeding movements thereof, means for applying pressure to the attached addressed portion of the label, and means for folding the unattached portion of the label about the edge of the article while pressure is applied thereto to seal the edge of the article.

3. In a machine for applying addressed labels to articles, a holder for a stack of articles, means for supplying labels having an addressed portion and a blank portion, constantly operating means for removing successive articles from the stack and for feeding the removed articles intermittently into label aifixing and label folding positions, means for afiixing the addressed portion of a label to one edge portion of an article, means for applying pressure to the addressed portion of the label, and means for folding the blank portion of the label about the edge of the article while pressure is applied thereto to seal the edge of the article.

4. In a machine for applying addressed labels to articles, a holder for a stack of articles, means for removing the successive lowermost articles from the stack and for feeding the removed articles intermittently into successive label afiixing and label folding positions, means foraffixing a portion of the label to an edge of an article be tween successive feeding movements thereof, means for applying pressure to the attached portion of the label, means for folding the unattached portion of the label against the edge of the article while pressure is applied thereto, and means engaging the unattached portion of the label for folding the label against the other surface of the article and for applying pressure thereto to seal the edge of the article.

5. In a machine for applying addressed labels to articles, a holder for a stack of articles, means for supplying labels having an addressed portion and a blank portion, constantly operating means for removing successive articles from the stack and for feeding the removed articles intermittently into successive label affixing and folding positions, means for afiixing the addressed portion of a label to an edge of an article between successive feeding movements thereof, means for applying pressure to the addressed portion of the label, means operative to fold the unattached portion of the label downwardly against the edge of the article while pressure is applied thereto, and means movable transversely of the first mentioned folding means for folding the remaining portion of the label against the other surface of the article and for applying pressure thereto to secure the label in position to seal the edge of the article.

6. In a machine for applying addressed labels to articles, a holder for a stack of articles, constantly operating means for removing successive articles from the stack and for feeding the removed articles intermittently into successive label applying and label folding positions, means for feeding labels having an addressed portion into label applying position and for applying the addressed portion of a label to one edge of an article, means for applying pressure to the attached portion of the label and article in label folding position, and means successively engaging the unattached portion of the label for folding the label about the edge of the article and against the other surface thereof to secure the label to the article to seal the same.

7. In a machine for applying addressed labels to articles, a holder for a stack of articles, means for supplying labels having an addressed portion and a blank portion, means for rendering one surface of the labels adhesive, constantly operated means for removing successive articles from the stack and for feeding the successive articles step by step into successive label affixing and folding positions, means for affixing the addressed portion of the label to one edge portion of an article, means for applying pressure to the addressed portion of the label when the article is in label folding position, and means for folding the blank portion of the label about the edge of the article while pressure is applied thereto to seal the edge of the article.

8. In a machine for applying addressed labels to articles, a holder for a stack of articles, means for supplying labels having an addressed portion and a blank portion, means for rendering one surface of the labels adhesive, constantly operating means for removing successive articles from the stack and for feeding the removed articles intermittently into successive label affixing and folding positions, means for aflixing the addressed portion of a label to the upper surface of an article adjacent to one edge thereof between successive article feeding movements, means for applying pressure to the addressed portion of the label and article in label folding position, means movable downwardly to fold the unattached portion of the label against the edge of the article while pressure is applied thereto, and means movable transversely of the first mentioned means for folding the remaining portion of the label against the lower surface of the article and for applying pressure thereto to secure the label in position to seal the edge of the article.

9. In a machine for applying addressed labels to articles, a holder for a stack of articles, means for supplying labels having an addressed portion and a blank portion, means for rendering one surface of the labels adhesive, feeding means including a pair of constantly moving chains having means thereon for removing successive articles from the stack and for feeding the removed articles intermittently into label affixing and folding positions, means for affixing the addressed portion of the label to an edge portion of an article between successive feeding movements thereof, means for applying pressure to the addressed portion of the label and article in label folding position, and means for folding the unattached portion of the label about the edge of the article while pressure is applied thereto.

10. In a machine for applying addressed labels to articles, a holder for a stack of articles, means for supplying labels having an addressed portion and a blank portion, means for rendering one surface of the labels adhesive, feeding means including a pair of constantly moving chains having means thereon for removing successive articles from the stack and for feeding the removed articles intermittently into successive label afhxing and folding positions, means for affixing the addressed portion of the label to an edge portion of an article between successive feeding movements thereof, means for applying pressure to the addressed portion of the label and article in label folding position, means operative to fold the unattached portion of the label downwardly against the edge of the article while pressure is applied thereto, and means movable transversely of said first mentioned. foldingmeans for folding ;the remaining portion of the label against the other surface of the article and for applying pressure thereto to secure the label in position to seal the edge of the article.

11. In a machine for applying labels to articles, a holder for a stack of articles, means for applying label to successive articles, constantly operating means for removing successive articles from the stack and for feeding the articles step by step into successive operating and discharge positions, and means for folding the labels about the edges of the successive articles located a plurality of feed steps from the afiixing means.

12. In a machine for applying labels to articles,

a holder for a stack of articles, and constantly "operating means including a chain having projections thereon for removing successive articles from the stack and for feeding the articles step by step into successive operating positions, and

, means for folding the labels about the edges of the successive articles located a plurality of feed steps from the affixing means.

13. In a machine for applying labels to articles, a holder for a stack of articles, and constantly operating means including a chain having lugs thereon for removing successive articles from the stack and for feeding the articles step by step into successive operating positions, said lugs being spaced apart on said chain a distance substantially greater than the length of the article fed to permit the articles to come to rest in successive operating positions, and means for folding the labels about the edges of the successive articles located a plurality of feed steps from the affixing means.

14. In a machine for applying labels to articles, a holder for a stack of articles, constantly operating means for removing successive articles from the stack and for feeding the articles step by step into successive operatin positions, means for affixing labels to successive articles, and means for to articles, suction means for moving applying pressure to the attached portion of the label and article in folding position and for folding the unattached portion of the label about the edge of the article to seal the same.

15. In a machine for applying labels to articles, a holder for a stack of articles, constantly operating means for removing successive articles from the stack and for feeding the articles step by step into label folding position, means for afiixing a portion of a label to an article, means for subsequently applying pressure to the attached portion of the label and article in label folding position, means for folding the unattached portion of a label downwardly against the edge of the article while pressure is applied thereto, and means movable transversely of the first mentioned folding means for foldingthe remaining portion of the label against the under surface of the article and for applying pressure thereto to secure the label in position to seal the edge of the article.

16. In a machine for applying adhesive labels to articles, means for aflixing a portion of an addressed adhesive label to the edge portion of one surface of an article, constantly operating means effective intermittently to feed the labeled article into label folding position, means for applying pressure to the attached portion of the label, means for engaging the unattached portion of the label to fold the unattached portion of the label into a position located substantially at right angles to the attached portion, and means mov- 17. In a machine for applying adhesive labels an adhesive label into engagement with the edge portion of the upper surface of an article and for affixing a of the label to the article, means for moving the labeled article step-by step into label fold ing position, a presser member movable toward and into pressure are being applied to successive articles between successive article feeding opera tions, a presser member movable toward and into pressure engagement with the attached portion of the label for applying pressure thereto, a folder member movable with said pressure member into engagement With the unattached portion of the label and movable relatively to said presser member to fold the unattached portion of the label against the edge of the article, and a second folder member movable transversely of the first mentioned folder member to fold the label against the lower surface of the article and. for pp pressure thereto to secure the label to the article while the article is in position for cooperating with the first mentioned folder member.

19. In a machine for applying adhesive labels to articles, means for affixing a portion of an addressed adhesive label to the edge portion of one surface of an article, means operating intermittently to feed the labeled article into label folding position, the distance between the label affixing position and the label folding position being substantially greater than the length of the articles to be operated upon by the machine to condition the adhesive thereon to make it suiliciently tacky to be secured to the article, means for applying pressure to the attached portion of the label, means for engaging the unattached portion of the label to fold the unattached portion of the label into a position located substantially at right angles to the attached portion, and means movable transversely of the last mentioned means for folding the remainder of the article into engagement with the other surface of the article and for applying pressure to the label to secure the label to the article.

20. In a machine for folding labels about the edges of articles, a presser member, means for moving the presser member into pressure engagement with a label secured to an article, means for folding the unattached portion of the label against the edge of the article, means for moving said folding means into folding position and for permitting operation of the presser moving means to move the presser member into pressure engagement with the labeled article, and means subsequently operative to fold the remainder of the unattached portion of the label over another surface of the article while the label is pressed against the edge of the article by the first mentioned folding means.

21. In a machine for folding labels about the edges of articles, a presser member, spring means operable to move the presser member into pressure engagement with a label secured to an article, means for folding the unattached portion of the label about an edge of the article, and means for moving said folding means into folding position and for permitting operation of the spring means to move the presser member into pressure engagement with the labeled article, said presser member and said folder means being arranged for movement as a unit toward the article and said folder member being arranged for movement relatively to the presser member to effect the folding operation, and means operated independently of said folder means for folding the label against another surface of the article While the label is pressed against the edge of the article by the first mentioned folder means.

22. In a machine for folding labels about the edges of articles, a presser member, spring means for moving the presser member into pressure engagement with a label secured to an article, means movable relatively to the presser member for folding the unattached portion of the label about an edge of the article, and a second folder means operated independently of the first folding means and movable transversely of the first mentioned folder means for folding the remainder of the label against the other surface of the article and for pressing the label against the article while the label is held against the edge of the article by the first mentioned folder means.

23. In a machine for folding labels about the edges of articles, a guide plate, a presser member, guide means on said presser member extending through openings formed in the guide plate, spring means for moving the presser member into pressure engagement with the attached portion of a label, a folder member located adjacent to the presser member and parallel thereto for folding the unattached portion of the label against the edge of the article, means for moving said folding member into folding position and for permitting the operation of the spring means to move the presser member into pressure engagement with the labeled article, and a second folder member movable transversely of the first mentioned folder member for folding the remainder of the label against the opposite surface of the article and for pressing that portion of the label against the surface of the article to secure the label to the article While the first mentioned folder member holds the label against the edge of the article.

24. In a machine for folding labels about the edges of multi-leaved articles, an article guideway, a holder for a collection of articles disposed at one end of said guideway, means operative intermittently to advance articles in successive order from said holder into and along said guideway, a label applying mechanism and a label folding mechanism disposed in position to operate on the articles in said guideway, said mechanisms being spaced a plurality of article lengths along said guideway whereby to provide a substantial time interval between the application of the label on an article and the folding of the label, said label applying mechanism having means to render a label adhesive and to apply it to a face of the article with a part of the label projecting from the edge of the article, and said folding mechanism having means to fold the projecting part of the label over the edge of and'upon the other face of the article.

HARMON P. ELLIOTT. 

